Bracing and securing device



(No Model.)

P. W. SHULS. BRACING AND SEUURING DEVIGB.

Patente d Nov. 18, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC SHULS, OF GALION, OHIO.

BRACING AND SECURING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440352, dated November18, 1890.

Application filed February l 2, 1890. Serial No. 340,129. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC W. SHULs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Galion, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Bracing and Securing Device, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for the purpose of securingmachinery-such as thrashing-machines,corn-shellers, sawing-machines,cotton-gins, presses, and the like-in position for being operated bystean or other power in such a manner as to prevent the machinery frombeing displaced by the strain upon the main drive-belt and theslackening of said belt resulting therefrom.

The invention has for its object to provide means for this purpose whichshall be simple, inexpensive, easily applied, and efficient for thepurposes indicated, and which shall be capable of being easily andquickly adjusted whenever necessary for the purpose of taking up anyslack in the main drive-belt.

With these ends in View the invention consists in the improvedConstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will behereinafter fully shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the casting, with which theadjusting-legs are pivotally connected. Fig. 3 is a perspective Viewillustrating a modification. Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of amachine, showing my invention applied thereto in position for operation.Fig. 5 is horizontal sectional view, showing the device applied to theframe of a thrashing-machinc, as in Fig. 4:.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

1 designates a casting comprising a socket 2,at the upper end of whichis formed atransverse eye or hearing 3, having a laterally ex tendingperforated boss or collar l.

5 5 designate arms extending upwardly from opposite sides of the socket.Eyes 6 6 are formed at the upper ends of said arms, and are connectedwith the central eye or hearing by means of fins or -webs 7, the wholeforming one complete and integral casting, which should be made of suchdimensions and strength as to enable it to resist a considerablestrai'n.

Connected pivotally with the eyes 6 6 by pins or bolts 8 are thedownwardly-extending arms or levers 9 9, the lower ends of which may beforked, as shown in the drawings, at 10, the prongs of said forks beingprovided with broad treads or edges, as at 11, for the purpose ofengaging the ground or the floor, as the case may be, in a manner andfor the purpose to be hereinafter described.

12 designates a plate or bracket adapted to be connected or Secured bymeans of a bolt 13 to the frame of the machine in connection with whichmy invention is to be used. Suitably attached to the outer side of theplate 12 is a fiat strap 14, the out-er end of which is perforated toreceive a bolt 15, the inner end of which passes through a perfol-ation15 in the plate 12 and into the frame of the machine, to which thelatte'is attached.

16 designates a crowbar, the upper end of which is squared, as shown at17, to adapt it to engage the socket 2 of the casting 1. The lower endof said crowbar is V-shaped,likea drill, as will be seen in thedrawings, for the purpose of enabling it tobe Conveniently. utilized forprying the wheels of the machinery in i connection with which myinvention is used.

In the drawings hereto annexed my inven tion has been shown as beingapplied to a thrashing-machine of ordinary Construction. The plate 12 issecured to the frame of the machine by means of a bolt passing throughthe perforation 13, and the bolt 15, which is held in positiondetachably by the strap 14, is withdrawn to enable the casting 1 to beinserted between said strap and the plate 12, after which the bolt 15 ispassed through the eye 3 of the casting, which latter is thus mountedpivotally in position for operation. The square end 17 of the crowbar 16maynow be inserted into the socket 2 of the casting and the lattervibrated or oscillated upon its pivot, thus causing the legs 9 9 to bealter nately lifted from and depressed against the floor, thus forcingthe machine in the proper direction to tighten the main drive -belt,which has been previously adjusted in position for operation, Thecrowbar may be removed, when desired, and used for the pur pose ofprying the wheels of the machine into position, and the machine, afterhaving been adj usted until the main belt has been strained to therequisite degree of tension, is retained securely by the lower prongedends of the legs 9 9 engaging the floor or the ground.

In case the legs 9, having the pronged ends, should be foundobjectionable as acting :injuriously upon the floors of barns and thelike, I may avail myself of the modification which has been illustratedin Fig. 3 of the drawings. By said modification the lower end of each ofthe legs 9 is connected pivotally with a shoe 21, havingupwardly-extending lugs 22, between which the lower end of the leg ispivoted upon a transverse pin or bolt. The lower or hearing face of theshoe 21 is partly serrated, as shown at 24, and partly provided withtransverse inclined ribs 25, which Will engage the floor-surface Withoutdanger of slipping and Without injuring the fiooring in any manner.

Having thus described ny invention, I claim- 1. The casting consistingof the socket provided with an eye at its outer end, outwardlyextendedarms 'having eyes at their outer ends, and the connecting fins or Webs,the said central eye being provided with a laterallyextending perforatedboss or fiange, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the casting having the socket and provided atits outer end with three eyes, the central one of which is provided witha laterally-extending perforated boss or fiange, of the legs connectedpivotally to the outer eyes, and piVotal con nection between the centraleye and the frame of the machine, substantially as set forth.

FREDERIC XV. SI-IULS.

witnesses:

T. B. BURGERT, E. B. GERTH.

